Driving and steering mechanism for wheeled toys



J y 1932- c. J. MOORE ,8

DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR WHEELED TOYS Filed April 7, 1951 C/zesia rJfloore INVENTOR:

54/44%& 60.

HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE CHESTER J. MOORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DRIVING- AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR WHEELED TOYS Application filed April 7, 1931.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in driving and steering mechanism for wheeled toys, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved ls construction of this character which will be highly eflicient in use and economical in manufacture.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel propelling and steering mechanism for wheeled toys.

It is another object of the invention to provide a propelling mechanism or motor and a steering mechanism which may be carried about by a person operating the same and propelling and steering the toy thereby.

It is a further object of the invention to construct the propelling and steeringmechanism in such a manner that power may be transmitted from a manually operated and portable motor to a drive shaft associated with the axle structure of the toy by flexible means through which movement may likewise be imparted to steering apparatus on the toy, so that the operator of the toy may walk along with the toy as he propels and steers the toy.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be b'est understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a wheeled toy embodying the improved steering mechanism and certain units of construction of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification of certain parts of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a part of the driving and steering mechanism.

In the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiments of the invention. the

Serial No. 528,879.

chassis of a wheeled toy is indicated a1 10 and mounted on this chassis in any approved manner are front and rear wheel-bearing axles l1 and 12. On the front axle 11 are spindles 13 and 14, of any approved type, and pivotally connected to these spindles are spindle arms 15 and 16 which are pivotally connected, as at 17 and 18, to a spindle arm connecting or radius rod 19.

Having one end pivotally connected to the spindle 14 is a link 20 which is pivotally connected at its other end, as at 21, to a steering rod 22 at the rear end of which is a universal joint 23, effecting connection between the rod 22 and a drive shaft 24 that is rotatably and slidably journaled in bearing brackets 25 carried by the chassis 10.

In the form of construction of the driving mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, there is attached to the chassis 10 a U-shaped bracket 26. The shaft 24 includes a squared portion 27 on which is splined, between the arms 28 of bracket 26, a worm gear 29 which meshes with a gear 30 that is fixed to axle 12. It is, therefore, apparent that when shaft 24 is rotated, by means to be described presently, worm 29 will mesh with gear 30 and thus rotate axle 12 and drive the wheeled toy. It will likewise be seen that since the worm 29 is splined on the squared portion 27 of shaft 24, shaft 24 may be moved horizontally in its bearings 25 so as to move, through universal joint 23, the steering rod 22 which, acting through link 20, spindle 14, and spindle 16 will pivot the radius rod so as to steer the front wheels 31 of the toy to the left, if the rod 22 is pulled rearwardly and, conversely, to the right if the rod 22 is moved forwardly.

The rear end of the drive shaft 24 is connected in any suitable manner, as by welding, to a flexible cable or Boden wire 32 which extends through, and is both slidable and rotatable in, a flexible conduit 33 which has one end attached to the chassis 10 by collar 34.. The other end of the conduit 33 is fastened, by a collar 35, to a housing 36 into which the wire 32 extends, Fig. 6. Provided in this housing 36 are a manually operable motor and steering mechanism, now to be described. In this connection, rotatably journaled and slidably mounted in bearing brack ets 37 that are secured to one side wall 38 of housin 36, is a shaft '39 which includes a. square portion 40. splined upon the squared portion 40 of shaft 39, between the arms 41 of a bracket 42 that-is securedto wall 38, is a bevel gear 43 which meshes with a bevel ear 44. The bevel gear 44 is fixed to a sha t 45 that is journaled in bearings 46 and 47 on the side walls 38 and 48 of hous ng 36, and on this shaft 45, exteriorly of side wall 48, is a handle 49.

A ring groove 50 is provided in a collar on the shaft 39 and extending into this groove is a finger 51 of a steering control member 52 which is pivotally mounted, as at 53, on a boss 54 formed on the inside of wall 48. The member 52 extends through, and works in, a slot 55 in wall 48 and this member 52 includes a pair of horns 56 and 57.

From the above description, it will now be seen that when the handle 49 and shaft 45 are rotated, gear 44 will rotate ear 43, and gear 43 will rotate shaft 39, an since shaft 39 is attached to wire 32, wire 32 will be rotated in conduit 33. Wire 32 being connected to shaft 24, shaft 24 will be rotated which will rotate worm 29, gear 30, and axle 12, and thus the rear wheels 58 of the toy will be rotated and the toy thus-propelled.

When the rear wheels 58 of the toy are revolved in the manner described above, and the horns 56 and 57 are in the position of Fig. 6, the wheels of the toy will be in the position of Fig. 1, and thus the toy will move in a straight line, it being understood that the operator will carry the housing 36 with him as the toy is propelled along. In the event that it is desired to steer the toy to the left, the operator will press the horn 56 inwardly in slot 55, thereby causing finger 51 to slide shaft 39 to the rear (to the right as seen in Fig. 6), thus ,retracting wire 32 in conduit 33, and causing shaft 24 to be moved rearwardly, which will move rod 22 toward the rear of the vehicle and thus steer the front wheels 31 to the left, in the manner described above. Conversely, by pressing inwardly on horn 57, finger 51 will slide shaft 49, wire 32, andshaft 24 in the opposite direction, and thereby moverod 22 forwardly, thus steering the wheels 31 and the toy to the right.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4

and 5, the rod 22 terminates in a pair of.

spaced apart arms 59 between which the rear axle 12 extends (Fig. 5). These arms 59 are joined at their rear ends to form a part of a universal joint 60 which includes a ball 61 that is carried by a shaft 62. Shaft 62 is rotatably and slidably mounted in a bearing 63 carried by chassis 10, and this shaft62 includes a squared portion 62a on which is splined a bevel gear 64 that is held in place by the arms 65 of a bracket 66 which.

is mounted on chassis 10. Gear 64 meshes with a bevel gear 65 that is fixed to rear axle 12. Thus, upon rotation of the flexible wire 32, in the manner described heretofore, the shaft 62 will be rotated, which will rotate gear 64, and since gear 64 meshes with gear 65 on axle 12, the gear 65 and axle 12 and wheels 58 will be revolved. Slidable movement imparted to wire 32 will slide shaft 62 in its bearing 63 and this movement will be imparted to rod 22 to steer the vehicle, in the manner described above.

The invention, therefore, provides a motor and steering mechanism for a wheeled toy, and which mechanism may be carried about by the operator as the toy is propelled by operation of the motor from which power is transmitted to a driven shaft on the toy by flexible means which are likewise common to the steering apparatus of the toy.

' hile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying comprising a motor mechanism and a housing therefor, steering apparatus, and driven propelling means associated with said axle structures, flexible means including a slidable and rotative member for transmitting power from said motor mechanism to said driven means, and movement to'said steering apparatus, and means including a finger gripping element movably mounted in said housing for slidably moving said slidable member to control movement of said steering apparatus and direction of movement of the toy.

2. Propelling and steering mechanism for toys including wheel-bearing axle structures, comprising a portable motor mechanism and a casing therefor, steering apparatus, and driven propelling means associated with said axle structure, flexible means including a slidable and rotative member for transmitting power from said motormechanism to said driven means, and movement to said steering apparatus, and means for slidably moving said slidable member to control movement of said steering apparatus and direction of movement of the toy, said last-mentioned means including a member mounted on said slidable member and a movable member carried by the casing adapted to engage said member on the slidable member to slidably move the latter.

3. Propelling and steering mechanism for toys including wheel-bearing axle structures, comprising a portable motor mechanism, steering apparatus, and driven propelling means associated with said axle structure, flexible means including a slidable and rotative member common to both propelling and steering mechanism and for transmitting power from said motor mechanism to said driven means, and movement to said steering apparatus, a member providing an annular groove on said slidable member, and a member movably mounted on said casing and including a portion riding in said groove for slidably moving said slidable member to control movement of said steering apparatus and direction of movement of the toy.

4. Propelling and steering mechanism for toys including wheel-bearing axle structures, comprising steering apparatus and driven propelling means associated with said axle structures, a portable motor mechanism, flexible means including a conduit and a flexible shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said conduit for transmitting power from said motor mechanism to said driven means and movement to said steering apparatus, a member providing an annular groove on said shaft, and a member movably mounted on said casing and including a portion riding in said groove to slidably move said shaft and thereby control said steering apparatus and direction of movement of the toy.

5. Propelling and steering mechanism for toys including wheel-bearing axle structures, comprising steering apparatus and driven propelling means associated with said axle structure, portable means including a motor mechanism, and flexible means including a conduit and a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said conduit for transmitting power from said motor mechanism to said driven means and movement to said steering apparatus, said shaft having an annular groove formed therein, and a finger grip member movably mounted on said casing and including a portion riding in said groove whereby to slidably move said shaft and thereby control said steering apparatus.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHESTER J. MOORE. 

